Quincy woman seeking to help people with eating disorders to sing during national streaming event

QUINCY, Ill. – The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa & Associated Disorders (ANAD) will be the host of an original “This Is My Brave” production celebrating the voices of eating disorder recovery while cultivating hope for the estimated 28.8 million Americans suffering from an eating disorder.

Twenty-one individuals are set to take the stage to share and perform their stories of eating disorder recovery through poetry, dance, song, comedy and personal essay. Together, they seek to raise awareness and combat the stigma surrounding the nation’s second deadliest mental illness.

Quincy resident and singer/songwriter Lauren Johnston hopes her recovery story provides hope and inspiration to others who are struggling right now.

In a press release, Johnston said, “I spent more than 10 years battling an eating disorder, and I know I’ll never get those years back. But in recovery, I know my future is bright . . . and I hope that I can show others that there is hope for them too!”

Johnston will sing an original song about her eating disorder recovery journey at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, during “This Is My Brave – The Show.” This event will be held at Northwestern University in Evanston and be streamed live online for a national audience. For additional information, contact Jason Wood at jason.wood@anad.org.

Information is also available at: www.facebook.com/ANADHelp, www.instagram.com/anadhelp/ and https://anad.org/this-is-my-brave/.

The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders is the leading nonprofit in the United States that provides free, peer support services to anyone struggling with an eating disorder. Helping more than 10,000 individuals in 2023, the organization’s programs include a helpline, a wide offering of weekly virtual support groups and a six-month peer mentorship program. Learn more at anad.org.